Studio made of straw

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 8:15 pm

Whooo yeah, that's what I was kinda driving at. It's possible but not worth it.
Not to mention your insuing back injury and the medical expenses Surprised

.

=RR=

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 8:59 pm

Rod, that's why if you're going to build with bales, you don't allow them to get wet! The simple fact is that people do and have been building with straw bales in this country since the 1800's. There are bale houses in many states from that time period which are still around. I've done the homework, I've talked to experts, I've talked to home-owners in my area (western North Carolina). The mainstream wants to nay-say anything like this...would anyone have bought a hybrid car 20 years ago? Everything I've looked at regarding this type of construction indicates that if it is done right, it will stand the test of time. And I know, you can't leave the bales exposed and treat them with fire retardant...that's stupid! Just plaster them. As for moisture and spontaneous combustion...don't let them get wet! If you look at any information about bale buildings, this is the first thing they tell you. You stucco the exterior so it is waterproof, you design the structure with generous roof overhangs to prevent water from coming in contact with the walls as much as possible. You build the bale walls on the proper footings with vapor barriers to prevent moisture from leaching in from the ground. Saying that bale structures are prone to spontaneous combustion from moisture infiltration is like saying that stick built structures are prone to combustion from prolonged exposure to open flame!

Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 2:55 am

This is of special interest to me.

I designed and built a two story, 3500 SF straw bale house, and I'm sitting in it right now. I love it. My house uses no furnace, only a wood heater and the sun does the rest, and I'm in Canada.

It won't rot unless you do something stupid, like use it on a wall with no overhang. It should last forever, if built properly. It has unsurpassed insulative values, incredible strength, and it will not burn. Once the stucco is on there is insufficient oxygen for the survival of mice and such. It is incredibly cheap. It is a waste product. It is entirely renewable. And by the way, anyone who has ever come in my house, or any other bale house, will tell you it is absolutely frigging cool to look and live in.

Significant to studios is that you can do a curved wall very easily, which would allow you, if you have the room, to have convex walls for improved sound diffusion. Also the stucco ends up being a much rougher surface than drywall. It may disperse sound more but I can't prove that.

The sound transmission seems, to my experience, to be very low. Any sound I hear from trucks going by and such is invariably coming through the windows in my house. It's tough for sounds to walk through 18" of insulation.

A few facts

An exposed straw bale wall, meaning no stucco or plaster, is an invitation to disaster and will eventually catch fire, throw crap into your studio, attract vermin, or a host of undesirable results. It should not be considered under ANY circumstances.

You ALWAYS stucco or plaster both sides. This creates an inflammable wall due to the fact that there is inadequate oxygen for combustion. As far as I know, the only thing more fire proof is a concrete wall. The compression of the bales is irrellevant once the stucco is on. It also creates a wall of unbelievable strength.

Never use vapour barrier. I could yak all day, but just trust me on that one.

You never, ever, ever use hay. Yes, hay will self combust under the right circumstances.

You want to use the driest straw possible and keep them dry, as water, of course, leads to all sorts of rotting issues.

You need to consider in your foundation that an SB wall is much heavier, and of course, thicker, than 2 X 4 walls. You need to properly transfer loads to earth, that's all.

Electricity is easy. You dig a channel down the bale, put the wire in the channel, and cover it up with straw. Once stuccoed, it's all good.

Treat it right and it will treat you right. It's a killer material for a studio. Maybe better than anything else out there. Ironically mine will not be, as the allotted space above the garage makes it not possible.

If you have the space for it(18" thick walls eat up a lot of room) and you have the balls, go for it. You won't regret it.

The best part is that all your friends who laugh at you and make 3 little pig and big bad wolf jokes are the ones who's jaws have to be picked up off the floor the first time they step in the finished building.

As an aside, we designed this place to be a B & B, and yes, we have the rights to the "Three little pigs bed and breakfast."

Happy baling. Go for it.
Keith

Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 11:05 am

drumist69 wrote:

Rod, that's why if you're going to build with bales, you don't allow them to get wet! The simple fact is that people do and have been building with straw bales in this country since the 1800's. There are bale houses in many states from that time period which are still around. I've done the homework, I've talked to experts, I've talked to home-owners in my area (western North Carolina). The mainstream wants to nay-say anything like this...would anyone have bought a hybrid car 20 years ago? Everything I've looked at regarding this type of construction indicates that if it is done right, it will stand the test of time. And I know, you can't leave the bales exposed and treat them with fire retardant...that's stupid! Just plaster them. As for moisture and spontaneous combustion...don't let them get wet! If you look at any information about bale buildings, this is the first thing they tell you. You stucco the exterior so it is waterproof, you design the structure with generous roof overhangs to prevent water from coming in contact with the walls as much as possible. You build the bale walls on the proper footings with vapor barriers to prevent moisture from leaching in from the ground. Saying that bale structures are prone to spontaneous combustion from moisture infiltration is like saying that stick built structures are prone to combustion from prolonged exposure to open flame!

Drumist -

I have no idea why you continue to think that I am "naysaying" buildings constructed with bales of straw.

I am well aware of their use - in fact it was the son of a friend of mine who got the first home approved in Maine (by the state building official's department) using this type of construction - and that was back around 1989 - and I remember well sitting with him as he explained the bulls**t he got from the building officials in Maine when he tried to introduce this.

I have no issue what so ever with this construction - and am also very VERY well educated about it.

BUT - the original poster was not talking about constructing a studio with this - but rather using this to create a room within a room inside of his garage -

And that is a totally different cup of tea.

When he does this - how does he plaster the side up against the existing garage wall........ if his roof leaks - how does he stop that exposed face from getting wet?

My posts were aimed at alerting the ORIGINAL POSTER to the problems and potential dangers he faced with the construction he was suggesting.

Perhaps you would realize that if you read the thread again from the beginning - it's pretty clear if you care enough to actually follow the thread as opposed to just reading my posts.

Sincerely,

Rod

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